Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2015 Nissan Altima
The 2015 Nissan Altima has notable issues with the hood latch and door latches, highlighted by multiple recalls. There are also significant complaints regarding exterior lighting and airbag sensors. While service history and condition can vary, inspecting these areas is crucial to ensure safety and functionality.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2015 Nissan Altima has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 956 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #20V315000 Unintentional Release of Primary Hood Latch NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V915000 Rear Door May Open When Window Is Lowered NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V040000 Rear Door may Open when Window is Lowered NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V911000 Air Bag May Not Deploy Due to Software Issue NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V244000 Passenger Air Bag may not Deploy due to OCS Error NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V029000 Secondary Hood Latch may Bind and not Latch NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V733000 Front Brake Caliper Mounting Bolts may be Loose NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V681000 Air Bag may not Detect Passenger in Seat NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V486000 Fuel Sending Unit may Leak Fuel NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V116000 Secondary Hood Latch may Bind and not Latch NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Exterior Lighting 270 complaints
- Air Bags 177 complaints
- Power Train 161 complaints
- Unknown or Other 93 complaints
- Engine 66 complaints
- Structure 64 complaints
Of the 956 complaints on file, 46 report a crash and 5 a fire; across all 956 complaints, owners report 27 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Hood latch corrosion
How to check: Inspect for rust on the hood latches.
Rear door unlatches unexpectedly
How to check: Lower rear windows; check door latches.
Airbag sensor failures
How to check: Check airbag warning lights on dashboard.
Various engine issues
How to check: Listen for unusual noises when driving.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for unusual noises from engine.
Red flag: Loud knocking sounds
- 02
First-minute idling
What to check: Check for dashboard warning lights.
Red flag: Persistent warning lights
- 03
Moving from a stop
What to check: Monitor for smooth gear shifts.
Red flag: Jerky or delayed shifts
- 04
City driving
What to check: Test brake responsiveness.
Red flag: Unresponsive or soft brakes
- 05
Highway speed
What to check: Assess for vehicle pulling or shaking.
Red flag: Vehicle pulls to one side
- 06
Parking
What to check: Listen for noise when turning the wheel.
Red flag: Grinding or creaking sounds
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the hood latch been inspected?
- Were recalls serviced by a dealer?
- Any history of airbag issues?
- How often was the car serviced?
- Has the door latch issue been fixed?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Recall repair records
- Vehicle service history
- Title and registration
- Previous ownership history
- Accident history report
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2015 Nissan Altima at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
Looking at a specific 2015 Nissan Altima? Check the actual car
This checklist covers the model. From your free try.vin dashboard you can go further — paste the seller's listing for a deal score, or drop their photos for an AI condition report.